HEI Distributor Recommendations

[Dave K.]

Looking to install one in my 68 with a 307 V8. Recommendations? Lots of cheap ones on eBay for like 40-45 bucks. Do you also need the HE coil and wires? I recall installing one in my previous truck and didn't need anything other than the distributor....

Thanks, Dave.

[GASoline71]

The HEI should have a coil in the cap already installed. You will need plug wires with the HEI terminals on them if you're switching from an old points distributor.

Personally I wouldn't use a 50 dollar ebay distributor. I know there are a lot of cats that have bought them and love them. But there is a thread somewhere where someone bought one with the sole purpose of tearing it apart to show the differences in quality from a factory GM HEI distributor. The tolerances and parts were not up to par. So I will spend my hard earned dollars elsewhere.

That being said, even Mallory and MSD have their offshore junk distributors. In the MSD line, anything labeled "Street Fire" is their bargain basement stuff.

I've heard good things about Pertonix and DUI. But have never used any of their products. I Have had good luck with MSD Pro Billet HEI's. I have one in my rig now. Love it. I also use an MSD Digital 6AL box. But they are spendy.

But you do get what you pay for. Good luck!

Gary

[Derek.Matirne]

I just put a ACCEL in my truck, seems to ge a good HEI, it was around 125$ from Orelies....

[GMC-YA68]

Originally Posted by Derek.Matirne

I just put a ACCEL in my truck, seems to ge a good HEI, it was around 125$ from Orelies....

Same here. Worked well in the short amount of time I used it.

[leftybass209]

Many low horsepower GM crate engines use the PROFORM brand of distributors. I used their rebuild kit on an OEM dizzy with great results, and it cured a few ailing issues I hadn't yet found with my OEM.

ACCEL isn't a bad choice, but they do have their share of quality issues with other distributor related parts.

I would stay away from the ebay stuff. The prices always look good, but that's the only thing that's good about them.

Go over to Summit or your preferred parts house and read reviews on HEI's that you're interested in. Often times I go to summit and look up a generic search like "HEI" compare all the brands with any information they have, then cross reference those items to reviews or ask questions here like you did.

[truckster]

I've run GM HEIs from wrecking yards for years with only one module replacement. I really like the factory unit; I think GM got it right on that one. I'd just look for something with lower miles.

[leddzepp]

I've used several Skip white $50 eBay specials, never any problems or complaints. Way better than a points distributor. But at $50 it's probably going to fail sooner or later Going to use an msd street fire on my 68 this time. The local speed shop swears by them for non-race applications and I've read nothing but good reviews on them as well. I used a DUI on one of my jeeps years ago. No complaints either...but it did the same thing the Skip white dizzies do and cost almost $400.

[midnight rambler]

look at summit

[msgross]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

I've used several Skip white $50 eBay specials, never any problems or complaints. Way better than a points distributor. But at $50 it's probably going to fail sooner or later Going to use an msd street fire on my 68 this time. The local speed shop swears by them for non-race applications and I've read nothing but good reviews on them as well. I used a DUI on one of my jeeps years ago. No complaints either...but it did the same thing the Skip white dizzies do and cost almost $400.

I've also heard good things about the skip white parts on Ebay. I had one but also picked up a GM performance parts HEI on another deal. While comparing them side by side the only things I noticed was the GM part felt like it had smoother bearings compared to the skip white part.

For the money i'd buy a skip white part and try it out. He also has good prices on wires so the overall cost savings is worth looking at.

[tdangle]

I'm thinking of picking up the Accel one from Oreilleys. Anyone know if it comes with a coil?

[57larry]

pull a factory HEI at Pick a part or pull a part way cheaper

[summitflier]

Had good luck with Accel in the past. Running MSD now. So far no problems.

[MigGunslinger]

Low buck: pickup a used HEI from a junkyard and replace the coil / cap if you want to upgrade them.

High dollar: MSD makes a great product as we all know. I can personally recommend DUI as my brother has one on his Jeep (same cap and electronics but on an AMC 304)

[Dave K.]

Thanks for all the great inputs folks.

Question--what years am I pulling the GM one from if I go that route? Will any V8 unit do?

[Already Gone]

Put one of these in my BB truck in 2006. Sold my truck in 2014 and never had problem with the distributor. The cost of this back then was about 40.00 more than buying cap, coli etc. for the factory HEI that had been installed in the truck.

https://www.msdignition.com/Products...stributor.aspx

[picklito]

I had trouble with the top bushing going dry on my ski boat, cuz we only ran it in the summer. So I replaced Mercury's OE/GM HEI with a ball-bearing MSD and it's been flawless.

[midnight rambler]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-850001-1
this is the one I got with a discount code.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Dave K.

Thanks for all the great inputs folks.

Question--what years am I pulling the GM one from if I go that route? Will any V8 unit do?

It needs to be from a Chevy V8, and one without computer controls. Other than that, any one should work.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by truckster

It needs to be from a Chevy V8, and one without computer controls. Other than that, any one should work.

'75 to '83 should work. 1975 was when the HEI became standard. It was optional in '74. '83 was the year before computer controls came in. I could be wrong, however.
I have a '68 C/10 w/ L6 292 and a '71 GMC Jimmy w/ V8 350. If asking for HEI parts, I tell the parts clerk 'It's for a "1975." '

[DRGunn]

I got mine from Rock Auto. $112.00 with cap, rotor, wires and coil.

They have many options for the 78 C10 (or 20) as long as it is the small block it should work.

Plugged it in and fired it up. Took about 2 hours to install what with looking for a place to connect the power wire to. Found it on the fuse block under ignition...

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I pulled a GM from a wrecking yard. That was approx. 24 years 42K mile ago. I think I replaced one part since, don't really remember. You can add a kill switch.